Fictional
Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Martin Luther King Jr.
Lindsay
A. Braman
September
21, 2001
English
Comp II
Note: Though we cannot know for sure, I am assuming for
the sake of discussion that Thomas Jefferson has no racial bias. This
fictional letter is meant to be a welcome to heaven extended by
Thomas Jefferson within a few months following Martin Luther King
Junior’s death.
Dear
Friend,
Let
me be among the first to welcome you to the Promised Land. I am sure
you are finding yourself at home here in the afterlife. I am writing
to let you know that though there were many who despised your actions
on earth, we rejoice to have you here among us. As a man seeking the
same ideals you sought in life, I wanted to write you and commend
your tireless effort.
Just
because you are now here in heaven does not mean you must give up
seeking the freedom you worked for in your life. True, we are all
free here, but we become freer as we continue to seek our freedom.
Alas, Brother Martin, God gave you a heart of justice and a gift of
reason. Just as I did when I was new here, you will begin realize
these gifts even more as the generations lengthen into an eternity of
rest.
I
have always followed Americans’ pursuit of freedom; you could
say it is a favorite pastime of mine. I was elated that my
Declaration of Independence for America could aid you in your pursuit
of freedom for your race. As you know, I firmly believe it is the
right and duty of a people to alter or abolish a government that
denies them their freedom. I am so glad the country I helped found
has a government flexible enough and a people honest enough to
realize the injustice imposed on African-Americans.
I,
too, know what it was like to be oppressed and disenfranchised.
Certainly you know that when we founded America, we were under the
nearly tyrannical rule of the King of England. We were not allowed to
express ourselves or have a voice in politics. We were not welcomed
in many social circles and we suffered physical harm for believing in
the truths that were self-evident to us. So many laid down their
lives for the country I helped to found. Those revolutionaries who
died are now satisfied in knowing that by giving their life they were
able to create a nation with a better government. They helped create
a government that could see injustice among your people even if it
did take some work to get their attention.
I
truly wish I could have done more for your cause while I was among
the leadership of the United States; but I am sure you understand I
did everything I could. I thank God that the ideals I envisioned for
America became realized in the generations after mine so that they
would free your people from captivity and give rise to a young man as
dedicated as you. For so many years your freedom, your rights, and
even your lives were taken in an attempt to control you. This was
very different from the America I envisioned when I declared that all
men were created equal. I am encouraged, however, to see that our
nation strive closer to true freedom with each passing day. I wish I
could have founded a nation that never knew of the desolate valley of
discrimination, as you put it, but a people cannot change overnight.
It was difficult enough to rally the colonists enough to take action
for themselves. There certainly would have been no use in attempting
a revolutionary war while fighting the Civil War and a battle for
desegregation and suffrage at the same time! I know you were a part
of the plan from the beginning. You have fulfilled you mission
wonderfully and are entitled to a peaceful rest here now.
We shared so many beliefs, Martin. I hope that I will
see you soon, when we may discuss these ideas much more. In the
meantime, please enjoy your rest here and offer my best wishes to the
family and friends you are undoubtedly visiting currently.
